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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRB 2012-01-18 #2 CITY OF Community Development Department – Planning Division Meeting Date: January 18, 2012 Case Numbers: ED11-003/UP11-005 Project Planner: Caron Parker– (415) 485-3094 REPORT TO DESIGN REVIEW BOARD SUBJECT: 1 Wellbrock Heights (Aldersgate Methodist Church) – Request for an amendment to Environmental and Design Review Permit ED04-006 and Use Permit UP04-003 to allow the installation of 9 new AT&T antennas co-located on the existing church building containing 12 previously approved antennas. The project would also include the installation of outdoor equipment cabinets in a fenced 15’ x 30’ lease space west of the church building, as well as 36 co-axial cable runs; APN: 175-060-96; Single Family Residential (R7.5) District; Aldersgate Methodist Church, owners; James Singleton, NSA Wireless, applicant; File No(s).: ED11- 003/UP11-005. PROPERTY FACTS Site Characteristics General Plan Designation Zoning Designation Existing Land-Use Project Site: Low Density Residential R7.5 Church North: Office PD Kaiser Hospital South: Office/Low Density Residential PD(1556), P/OS and R7.5 Open Space, Residential East: Office PD Kaiser Hospital West: Low Density Residential R7.5 Residential SUMMARY The proposed project was reviewed by the Board on August 16, 2011. The Board expressed concerns about the existing design of the antenna screens previously approved and suggested that the applicant consider a design that would blend in better with the building. In addition, the Board wanted more details on the new fiberglass screen proposed to be installed in front of the existing triangular rooftop window and how the new window would integrate with the existing Sprint stealth panel screen adjacent to the window. This window had been described as a “stained glass” window in the previous staff report but it is actually a plain glass window with a patterned design. The project was continued with the following consensus recommendations, per the attached August 16, 2011 Design Review Board meeting (Exhibit 2): 1. Further refinement to integrate proposed screening enclosures into the building with more details to show a more seamless stealth design. 2. Landscaping plan detailed to provide better screening than proposed. 3. Address the screening enclosures so that they all match instead of having different colors/ materials. 4. Landscaping palette should change to improve appearance of site by adding trees to the left side of the parking lot and dry turf area and better irrigation throughout the area. The Board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Zoning Administrator. 2 BACKGROUND Site Description & Setting: The 3.1-acre site is currently developed with a two-story 9,875-square-foot church with associated landscaping and parking. Access to the church is off of Trellis Drive (see Exhibit 1- Project Vicinity Map). The church also includes a childcare facility and classrooms on the lower level of the church and playground (on the eastern side of the property). History: There are two existing wireless carriers on site. A Sprint PCS wireless communication facility was approved and installed on the church in 1997. The installation included a GPS roof mounted antenna, five panel antennas (1 cross mounted, 2 mounted and screened on the north elevation and 2 mounted and screened on the west elevation), and a ground mounted base transceiver enclosed by a 6-foot fence with associated screening landscaping. A Cingular wireless facility (now T-Mobile) was approved in 2004 and included five panel antennas (1 cross mounted, 2 mounted and screened on the north elevation and 2 mounted and screened on the west elevation) including one ground mounted equipment cabinet enclosed by a 6-foot fence with associated screening landscaping. PROJECT DESCRIPTION There are no changes to the project description presented at the August 16, 2011 DRB meeting. AT&T Wireless proposes to install 9 rooftop antennas and lease approximately 450 square feet of ground level space for a new equipment cabinets. The proposed revisions relate to design only, and are described below: Project revisions: 1. The proposed square shaped “saddlebag” antenna screen design has been revised. The antennas proposed on the north (Sector A) and west elevations (Sector B) will be enclosed in a new stealth screen enclosure that extends from the roof eave to the ground. The existing saddle bag screen on the west side of the building will be removed and the Sprint antennas behind them will be incorporated into the proposed full length screen wall, along with the 3 proposed AT&T panel antennas (see Plan Sheet A-3). No changes are proposed for the existing “saddlebag” Sprint screen enclosure on the north side of the building. Color and materials for the new stealth enclosure are proposed to match existing building materials. 2. The landscape plan (see Plan Sheet L-1) has been revised to include a total of 5 California Pepper trees (24” box). The proposed 4 Toyon shrubs have been replaced with 8 Manzanita hedges (15-gallon). Church representatives have indicated that the applicant is willing to work with them to add additional landscaping in the area, if needed. 3. The proposed fence enclosing the proposed equipment cabinet lease area will be constructed with redwood fence material and remain unpainted. For the two existing fence enclosures, the existing white fence will be replaced with redwood materials and any old panels on the existing natural wood fence enclosure would be replaced with redwood materials. 4. Additional detail has been provided to clarify how the proposed 3 antennas will be incorporated into the existing triangular window on the roof of the church building (see Plan Sheet A.7). ANALYSIS 3 The applicant has revised the plans to reflect the Board’s comments at the August 16, 2011 DRB hearing and has returned for a follow-up review. A full sized and 11” x 17” reduced set of the revised plans are included in the Board’s packet. A copy of the previously submitted plan set, dated June 24, 2011, is also included (see Exhibit 3 in the Board’s packet only). The Board’s consensus items are identified below in bold and followed by proposed revisions and staff analysis of the revisions. 1. Further refinement to integrate proposed screening enclosures into the building with more details to show a more seamless stealth design. The applicant redesigned the screen enclosures such that they are extended and run along the entire height of the building wall, eliminating the box-like “saddlebag” appearance of the screen enclosures on the north and west sides of the building (see Plan Sheets A-2 and A-3). Analysis There are several existing antennas on the building located behind screen walls. AT&T originally proposed to replicate the design of the existing screen wall, however, the Board commented that the increase in the number of antennas would create a “saddlebag” appearance and suggested that the applicant consider a design that was more integrated with the building architecture. The new design achieves this objective in that it creates a design that it looks like an exterior building wall. The “saddlebag” screening the existing antennas on the west side of the building will be removed and the antenna will be incorporated into the new screen wall panel to create a seamless wall. The color and materials of the new screen wall will match the existing building materials. The new antennas proposed for the north side of the building will also be screened behind a full length wall panel, however, the existing panel antennas on the north wall will not be incorporated into the new design because they are 28 feet away from the proposed AT&T antenna location. Sprint has a pending design review application to replace these antennas and staff plans to review upgrades to the existing screen design as part of this process. The design of the triangular rooftop window was not an official consensus item, however, the Board did ask for more clarity on how the proposed window screen enclosure would be installed. The applicant has provided more details and dimensions for this element of the project on Plan Sheet A.7 (see also Exhibit 4 for a photo of the existing window, taken from both outside and inside the building). The proposed new window screen is located adjacent to an existing Sprint stealth screened antenna approved in 1997. Staff has encouraged the applicant to coordinate with Sprint about consolidating this antenna within the stealth screen window proposed for the 3 new AT&T antennas. The applicant is willing to work with Sprint on improving the existing Sprint antennas screen area, either through incorporating the Sprint antennas into the AT&T enclosure or painting the existing screen with updated materials. There is was no final decision about this at the time this staff report was prepared. 2. Landscaping plan detailed to provide better screening than proposed; and 3. Address the screening enclosures so that they all match instead of having different colors/ materials. The revised landscape plan includes a total of 5 California Pepper trees and a total of 8 Manzanita hedges. The applicant is still proposing to relocate 1 existing tree to make space for the new equipment cabinet lease space. Bark mulch is proposed to be added to all disturbed areas (see Plan Sheets L-1 and A-O). The fence for the proposed new AT&T lease area will be constructed of redwood fencing and the existing white fence boards would be replaced with redwood fencing. Analysis The applicant has added a row of three California Pepper trees north of the fenced lease area. The applicant’s intent is that the trees would help break up the blank wall along the west side of the building and provide screening. The redesigned screen enclosure is barely noticeable as being different from the exterior building walls, but the trees will still have a positive impact on views. The four 5-galllon 4 Toyon shrubs have been replaced with 8 Manzanita hedges (15-gallon). The Manzanita hedges will help screen the wood fence enclosures for the equipment cabinets. Further, the applicant has proposed to use redwood fencing surrounding the equipment cabinet lease area, as well as replace the existing white fence with redwood materials. This will establish continuity between all three equipment cabinet enclosure fences. Staff has determined that the additional landscaping on site will enhance the existing site and help reduce the visual impacts of the wireless equipment. 4. Landscaping palette should change to improve appearance of site by adding trees to the left side of the parking lot and dry turf area and better irrigation throughout the area. The applicant has added a total of 5 trees and 8 hedges to the area surrounding the existing and proposed lease space. The applicant is willing to add additional landscaping upon request. Analysis Staff supports the proposed landscape improvement as the new planting will improve the areas impacted by the proposed new lease area. While other portions of the project site could benefit from landscaping upgrades, the proposed project is not impacting these areas. The applicant has indicated that they are willing to work with the church to enhance landscaping in other areas on site. The proposed new landscaping would address the direct project impacts on site and addresses the bulk of the Board’s comments from the August 16, 2011 hearing. The applicant has indicated that they are willing to add additional landscaping to other areas of the site, if requested. The preliminary landscape plan will be submitted to Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) for review of planting plan and irrigation system prior to final zoning administrator approval. Zoning Ordinance/General Plan 2020 Consistency: Given that the revisions to the project are minor, and the changes made would improve aesthetic qualities on site, the proposed project would continue to be consistent with the development standards of the R7.5 Single-Family Residential District, and Section 14.16.360 (Wireless Facilities). For more detail on Zoning Ordinance and General Plan consistency, please refer to the discussion on pages 3-5 of the August 16, 2011 staff report (Exhibit 5). An Alternative Site Analysis was submitted per Zoning Ordinance Section 14.16.360.B.3, which requires such an analysis for sites not located in an industrial or commercial zone. The applicant indicated that two other sites were considered: Terra Linda High School and Kaiser Medical Center. According to the applicant, these locations were not available due to lack of a willing landlord. The applicant indicated that the project site at 1 Wellbrock Heights presents a co-location option not found at the other sites. The applicant has submitted a co-location agreement to allow future co-location at the proposed project site. A radio frequency (RF) evaluation was prepared for the project. The results of these reports do not affect design of the project and will be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator. However, staff does note that the studies indicate the project, as proposed, complies with all applicable RFR standards for wireless communication facilities. NEIGHBORHOOD CORRESPONDENCE A courtesy notice was mailed to all property owners and occupants within 500 feet of the subject site, the Terra Linda Homeowner’s Association and appellants from the previous Cingular application appealed to the Planning Commission in 2006. In addition, a public notice sign was posted at the site identifying the meeting time, date, location, and scope of the project within fifteen (15) days prior to the Board’s meeting. To date, staff has received no comments. 5 CONCLUSION Overall, staff supports the proposed project because it is in keeping with the General Plan 2020 policies, meets all zoning ordinance requirements, is of stealth design, meets the performance standards established for wireless communication facilities and will blend in with the existing church structure on the project site. The redesign of the stealth enclosures on the north and west side of the building will consolidate multiple screens into one solid wall, greatly improving the building appearance. The existing landscaping will be upgraded, and the 5 new trees and 8 new hedges added to the site will improve the overall look of the site and in particular, will help screen the fenced equipment area along the front driveway of the site. Due to the uncertainty for the proposed upgrades to the existing rooftop Sprint antenna on site, the applicant has not been able to propose an integrated design for the proposed AT&T antennas and the existing Sprint rooftop antennas. However, the applicant has indicated that they are willing to work with Sprint and Planning staff to design a screen that would be an improvement over the existing antenna screen. Staff would coordinate with the applicant as part of the Zoning Administrator review process. Staff requests the Board’s comments and recommendation to the Zoning Administrator on the following: 1. Revised design for the proposed antennas on the north and west building elevations. 2. Revised details for the proposed fiberglass window screen for the rooftop antennas. 3. Whether the proposed new window screen needs to incorporate the existing Sprint antenna screen into the new design. 4. Adequacy of the revised landscape plans. The Board, in fulfilling its role of providing professional design advice to the City, may have additional concerns, information requests, and may provide any additional recommendations it deems appropriate for this design review application. Following the recommendation of the Board, the application will be forwarded to the Zoning Administrator for their consideration. If desired, the Board may impose conditions at the Zoning Administrator level, or request that design changes come back to the Board for consideration prior to Zoning Administrator approval. EXHIBITS 1. Vicinity Map 2. August 16, 2011 DRB minutes 3. Previously submitted project plans dated June 24, 2011 (11” x 17” set distributed to Board members only) 4. Photos of existing rooftop window and Sprint antenna screen 5. August 16, 2011 DRB staff report (without Exhibits) Full-sized plans and 11” x 17” sized plans have been provided to the DRB members only. cc: James Singleton, NSA Wireless, 2000 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 400, San Ramon, CA 94583 Barbara Nelson, Aldersgate Methodist Church, owners 1 Wellbrock Heights, San Rafael, CA 94903 Reule Brady, Terra Linda HOA, P.O. Box 6405, San Rafael, CA 94903